The Chateau Diaries #408 Hey Chateau Diaries fans, mireille4751 is really Philip Janssen!

[T Rex]

Not to brag, but I will- I not only saw (and hugged) a well-loved celebrity today BUT she made Mr. T Rex and me lunch! Thank you again @mrsp67!

Here's a picture of mine- Blackened Chicken Caesar Salad (the chicken was in a separate container and still really hot by the time I arrived home and put groceries away while the salad was cold and crisp):

This was hands down the BEST Caesar salad I have ever eaten in my life. The chicken was juicy and delicious and the home-made croutons were bomb. I wasn't even really hungry, but I devoured the entirety. And it was enormous! Even the picky Mr. T Rex (who had already eaten lunch whilst I was out) ate his salad as well, declared it delicious and wanted to know the blackening seasoning that was used because "the chicken was perfect."

Thank you again @mrsp67 ! .

PS- I know some of you are in awe of my excellent tablescape. It took me literally 3 seconds to throw together. The forks came from a drawer in my kitchen. Yes, that is not an actual salad fork- I have them, but just grabbed dinner forks. The fancy napkins come from a roll that I purchase in bulk under the name "paper towels" from the Sam's Club. My drinkware is from Yeti.com (I have many in different colours) because in Florida, keeping drinks cold is more important than aesthetics.

 

[Fromthenorth]

@Fromthenorth - Checking in with you to see how things are going with your husband! When you feel up to it, please let us know how you both are faring. Take good care of each other in the meantime.

I'm doing well, my husband is out of "the acute ward" can move all his limbs but he has pneumonia on top of everything else and his "immediate memory" is not there. He still doesn't know he is in hospital. But, he can remember the months right before his stroke, long and short term memory is there, not the "instant" memory where we talk about back and forth. I'm "holding the fort" and go see him every morning. Thank you for asking.

 

[mrsp67]

Hello y’all I can’t believe another thread has gone by. I had a fabulous visit from a Dino today with lots of gifts Given to me!!! @T Rex bought out bath & body, and made my day!!! The great thing about you hags is that even though you’re going through a hard time you find time to lift each other up so thanks for the lift T-Rex!!!

 

[MsPitstop]

From the comments section on latest flog, Phillip's enabler. Dead!

@crinkle2649
26 minutes ago (edited)
I'm sorry, but I really wish that Amaury and Chris and Ben would take Philip clothes shopping to buy men's clothes and he would stop wearing all of the women's clothes. Don't come after me in the comments. All of the other gay men that are friends and visitors wear men's clothes.

 

[FrasersMum]

When Teabag resurfaces, perhaps he will update us on how the publication of his book Pip the wonder mouse is going. Next up he can do Pingu who travels on his sugar mommies dime. View attachment 4017943

how about the story of Fuzzy McGrowl the alcoholic, liver lipped bear?

 

[FecilitéJ]

Just look at the difference Patreon money could be making! The change in darling Dorothy May in less than two weeks is remarkable. I know it’s still early days but she is definitely feeling and looking so so much better!

 

[Jules100]

Angels, here’s a new thread name suggestion:

Hey Chateau Diaries fans, XantheWilliams is really Philip Janssen!

 

[Lady Avonlea]

Fanny had promised a Year in Review (but that never happened). So what has happened at the shitoo over the past 10 months? What new and wonderful things will patrons see this year? How have Fanny & Baldilocks spent their time and the Patron's money? Here's a little Year in Review

A Few of the Unfinished Projects

Never-ending Travels (by my count 21 trips in 10 months)
Switzerland, Germany, Nice, England, Scotland, England, Sicily, Paris, London, Morocco, London, South of France, Venice, Geneva, South Africa, London, Paris, South of France, Antiques Tour, London - CFS, UK - Newby Hall

Old Friends, New Friends and Friends with Benefits

Others MIA

Twirling & Michelin Star Tasting Menus

Forgotten Wallpaper and Forgotten Friends Hidden Away in the Attic

Pretenious Parties

A Lot of Finger Pointing

Lots of Lies

Flamboyant Arm Flapping

Deathbed Diaries

Things You Wish You Never Saw

Farewells, Faulty Furniture and Gourmet Food Disasters

Too many dishes, Too many drinks and way more Lena Hoeseck dresses than I can keep track of...

Guest Season Goodbyes......

Workboots, but not much work. Then there's Snorty who does no work at all!

Baldilocks, Books & Roadtrips

Books, Books and More Books

Internet Garden

Sad Animals

Ardwhore Overload

Gallstone and Girl Jeans

Lots of talk, but SFA Renovation, Restoration or Construction

 

[SaucySaysSo]

Men’s shirts button from left to right.

That is all.

 

[Le Baiseur]

A beautiful tribute.

 

[T Rex]

Thank you to the amazing @ComtesseRose for the fresh new thread. I hope your headache goes away soon. The best advice I can give you is to drink a Liquid I.V. and lie down on a dark room with a ice pack on the back of your head- it helps. Thank you to our beloved @Jules100 (not to be confused with "Julie the Counnnntesss of Sannnndwitch") for the awesome title- sending some Miller Lite your way!

 

[ComtesseRose]

@crinkle2649
26 minutes ago (edited)
I'm sorry, but I really wish that Amaury and Chris and Ben would take Philip clothes shopping to buy men's clothes and he would stop wearing all of the women's clothes. Don't come after me in the comments. All of the other gay men that are friends and visitors wear men's clothes.

LOL. Crinkle how dare you. PhiPhi is an intergalactic non-binary clown.
And PhiPhi's pronouns are Gluten-Free/Allergic

 

[SaucySaysSo]

The woman is a one trick pony and she knows it!

Fanny is a one trick phony.

 

[Jeeves]

Has anyone seen @Jeeves , or is the King in Wales currently?

Sorry Halcy, been a little busy lately entertaining visitors.

 

[SaucySaysSo]

Thank you @ComtesseRose for the new thread. I hope you find relief soon from your headache.

Great title, @Jules100 I hope many people discover the truth through it.

Many folks on here are suffering illness, heartache and loss. To all of you, I send love and light.

To the Lalandfill crew, well all I have to say is, you can run but you cannot hide. The truth will out and we’re all here for it.

 

[Lady Avonlea]

Today's Patreon Vlog is a Snoozer

Jenga Room - More Design Discussion
Amuary is fretting over the fact that on one side of room there needs to have 2 kick-outs, when there only used to be one kickout! What is a kick-out you may ask? Basically it's a piece of architure (ex: a bookcase) sticking out from a flat wall. Baldilock's is pointing again!

Fanny want's a large entrance into the room so Cuz has 'angled' the baseboard by the main door

Hanging Daddy's painting wasn't enough - they've now hung some drapes and introduced some furniture pieces for visitors on patron day can get an idea of the design vision. Fanny is rapturous in praise for her Cuz. Its gorgeous, amazing, glorious.....

Patron Day(s)
- Fanny doesn't say when it's happening, but Patron Day is fast approaching
- We're told that lots of cleaning is taking place, especially in preparation for Mummy & Percy's arrival on Sunday. In tomorrow's CD we'll see Fanny & Baldilock's organizing their bedsit.
- A cavalcade of flowers is being ordered. Money, money, money!!!
- Surprise, surprise, there aren't enough flowers in the gardens of the shitoo to cover all the tables. It doesn't look as though FRK, Pavlina and Sabine are ordering the flowers from the Hot Flower Guy anymore.

Back to the Jenga Room - Let's Talk Heating - Again (Deja Vu)
- Fanny says the design discussion was yesterday, and this pending heating discussion is today. Say what ??? I don't think either of these discussions took place this week, but were filmed before Fanny & Snorty left for the UK
- Amuary looks exasperated and wishes he was back at the trailer smelling cow shit

- Snorty has changed and is now wearing his Granny's wrinkled pink/peach sweater. Amuary is wearing the same clothes.

Snorty is still pointing and iis now the heating expert . He explains mumbles the status of the heating-AC for the Jenga Room & new GS upstairs.

Underfloor Heating
Snorty says:

• the Jenga Room will have underfloor heating when the heating system is working in future - BUT....
• upstairs they had the right system, but it was all taken out. They aren't loving having a 'wet system' upstairs incase it leaks and ruins the Jenga Room downstairs (especially since it had previously leaked)
• Baldilocks says HE and ben were looking at an electric system.

Ben says:

• Ben explains that an electric system could be done, but it would draw a lot of power since the room isn't insulated, it's single-glazed windows and the under-floor heating only throws minimal warmth.
• BUT then Ben explains it will be too expensive to run under-floor heating. Also, you can't place heavy furniture on top on underfloor heating.
• Fanny laughs hysterically while Ben says underfloor is a non-starter, and Amuary smirks and walks out without saying a word!

Air Conditioning
Snorty says

• either BEN or AMUARY suggested air conditioning (as though to say don't blame me for this idea) It would be similar to what they've done in the kitchen, but without the big, white box
• the good thing is they can be set for both cooling & heating. Even though these are the coldest rooms in the shitoo, Fanny likes the idea of air-conditioning when it's filled with party guests
• they would install the A/C system in the grotto (underneath the crumbling terrace) and apparently it shouldn't be too noisy!?!?!
• the AC system will lead through the floor and upstairs to the attic (where it connects with another part of the system). Snorty the Heating Engineer is very, very confused trying to describe the system. Fanny (the technical genius) jumps in to explain that the attic will take air in and the grotto will take air out. Snorty hesitantly says it will then lead back again down an old, disused chimney, that was cut off in the 1970's, into the GS. Snorty desperately looks to Ben for confirmation.

• AC can also be set just to manage the humidify in the room (which would be a Godsend for the panelling)
• Fanny is very keen about that idea

Fanny says

• they are getting a quote from the same chap who installed the AC system in the kitchen. Fanny says the new system kept them warmer than ever before this past winter and hopes it will work just as well here
• Fanny says AC isn't the most important in these 2 rooms because the granite walls are 1m thick, but she's very excited by the prospect, especially if it keeps getting hotter each year

Gardens
It wouldn't be a vlog without a tour of the walled garden.

We only see a few of the chickens (Fanny's wearing a different outfit, so when was this filmed???) Fanny's cherries aren't blooming this season, but Baldilock's Grandad's favourite apple tree is flourishing

Fanny chats with James about building a hutch that will hide all the garbage bins so guests don't see them when approaching the shitoo. James will build a shed to shield Fanny's garbage and install a new hedge and fence too, so it all looks PRETTY!

Out by the garbage bins there's also a stone that was sitting on top of an old tree which was felled many years ago. The stone has fallen over. Fanny ponders what the stone was. Does anyone know? Is it a old sink? What is part of an ancient drainage system? Fanny, no one gives a flying fuck! Nite Nite....love to you all xoxo

 

[M&MsMom]

Joyeux anniversaire to Clare and Nick Butcher!

I really admire these two and just regret that I was late to the party.
They really show what can be achieved when you spend your time actually renovating the home you've purchased and sticking to a business plan.... instead of finding newfangled ways to convince everyone else to fund it for you! They really should be proud!

 

[HalcyonOrganic]

Clare ringing to order, and Mr. Butcher showing some pride!
Thanks Mr. Butcher for not turning away

 

[T Rex]

This is Horrible! Those poor chickens are living in a ghetto. What is wrong with those dirty inmates??? Clean this mess up!!! These animals are being abused, their living conditions are appalling. WTF!!! Seriously…I cannot…understand this…how can every single one of those people not see how filthy and scary this is for them??? Not even to see how dangerous all this junk is…these poor chicks don’t stand a chance. They are all gonna get ill and die.

Fanny…be a decent person and show some compassion…then get off your saggy @ss and clean up this mess!

Cheese on toast, Fanny, Potts and Snorts are a worthless lot and have zero problem solving skills. Since no one bothered to clean out the Peacock Prison, why did they just not put "Sif 4.0" and the peachicks into one of the bathrooms overnight, empty and properly clean out the Peacock Prison the following morning and THEN move them into it? The entire Shitoo is filled with village idiots. No common sense, no compassion. And Fanny thinks it is cute and funny. For someone who has had peacocks for years, Fanny has not a clue how to actually take care of them. SMH.

 

[T Rex]

I always find the critique of the Puy Vidal family and the fact that the parents paid for the renovations somewhat confusing. It's always mentioned. Who SHOULD be paying for it? Viewers of their vlogs or the family that happens to have the means to do so? I, for one, would be very critical if a wealthy family (not unlike Stephanie's family) funded the renovations via Patreon or GoFundMe the way Stephanie has - actually, what Stephanie does is much worse. She SAYS she's renovating, hence the Patreon account, but since we have eyes, we can see that's not the case.

People and their wealth comes from somewhere, always. It is either generational wealth or some type of self-made situation. That's just the way it is. Julia's family is wealthy. Her parents sold the family home in La Jolla, CA for what I am sure is an astronomical price. There is a new trend in families whereby instead of waiting until someone passes away, they dole out the inheritance while they're living. Her parents decided to make the move to France with them, to retire there. Neither one of her parents appear to be the type that would do something that they didn't want to do, and they seem happy there and they are, in my view, helping their children while they're alive instead of waiting until they pass away, which I think is a beautiful thing to do. Again, should they have a Patreon account instead and have strangers donate $5 a month to get it done? It isn't as though Julia and Caroline aren't working their asses off, trying to make a business that runs well and generates income. There's no Philip Janssen type, sitting around with his pinky up and his butt in a chair, watching everyone else work while his janky "fiance" films the whole thing, treating the whole thing as a joke. The parents also contribute to the business via their own hard work.

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, just stating my own feelings. I just think it's a criticism that is unwarranted.

I agree. The only issue I have with Julia and Carolina is maintaining a relationship with Fanny and Snorts, but I think they are just trying to "play nice" since Fanny was the one who helped them find the chateau.

Bob seemed unimpressed when Fanny and "architect for a day" Snorts (with his pile of decorating books) came to visit and less so when he actually visited the Shitoo- the expression on his face when he looked around at the collapsing terrace and crumbling facade said it all. Bob and Maruca moved to Puy Vidal on their own accord- and while he leaves the day-to-day operations of the Puy Vidal to Carolina and Julia, he is the one who ultimately decided to replace the swimming pool, put in a new fosse septique and have the new kitchen put in. While the intent of the retreats are to eventually generate income to help sustain Puy Vidal, you have to put money into it upfront to maintain and improve it. Plus, it is their family home that they live in during the off-season. The whole family works really REALLY hard the entire year, not just for guest season. I also give them kudos for hiring French workers and speaking with them in French.

I have told you all before that a couple I know went to one of their earlier painting retreats and they gave it rave reviews for everything- the workshop itself, the building and grounds, the food and attention to detail. I don't think they would have felt the same way at Chez Fanny.